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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

The Peppermint Pig™ Christmas Tradition

The Peppermint Pig™ Christmas Tradition

The Christmas tradition of the Peppermint Pig™ originated in the 1880's when Jim Mangay, a candy maker in Saratoga Springs, New York cast candy pigs from hardened peppermint. It's thought that European chefs who worked at Saratoga Springs' hotels influenced him. They originally wanted him to make pigs from marzipan, but since that particular candy was not easy to obtain, he improvised.

A fun and affirming tradition evolved. After Christmas dinner, the head of a household would place a Peppermint Pig™ in a velveteen bag and break it with a small hammer. the Peppermint Pig™ would then be passed around the family table so that each person gathered could give it a tap. When it was your turn, you had to recount something good that happened that year. The diners would then eat the pieces while hoping for prosperity.

Why a pig, though? Wouldn't a reindeer be better? Turns out that in Victorian times, the pig symbolized good health, happiness, and prosperity. This may have evolved from earlier peasant cultures.

Sugar rationing during World War II ended the making of the pigs, and then the older candy makers began to die off. Forty years went by. The tradition of the Peppermint Pig™ almost died out. But then another Saratoga Springs candy maker brought them back. Older residents of the town urged Mike Fitzgerald to make the pigs again shortly after he opened his candy shop, Saratoga Sweets. He obtained an original mold, and in 1988 made his first batch of 60 or 70 pigs.

They sold out.

Today the Peppermint Pig™ is sold online, as well as through catalogs, museum shops, and retail stores. Orders come in for several thousands of the candy pigs, and Saratoga Sweets usually runs out of them. Batches are made in small quantities to ensure quality control, and the candy is made with the same ingredients that were used over a century ago, and the molds used are replicas of the originals.

As Mike Fitzgerald observed in a post for All Points North, "It turns into a really positive family tradition. It provides closure to the year...I think these guys back 120-years-ago had a pretty good idea."

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Hailey may just give up on men entirely. When Corey broke her heart, her best friend Matt helped pick up the pieces. Matt made his interest in her no secret when they first met, but seemed happy to accept a friendship, at least until now. With Corey looking her way again, Matt has started acting funny.

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About Janalyn Voigt

Janalyn Voigt's unique blend of
adventure, romance, suspense, and whimsy creates breathtaking fictional
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She also writes fantasy. Beginning with DawnSinger, Janalyn's epic fantasy series, Tales of Faeraven, carries readers into a land only imagined in dreams.

Bohemian by ethnicity and mindset, Janalyn is an eclectic artist who
creates in multiple disciplines. (she also draws, sings, writes poetry,
and toys with a camera.)

Janalyn is represented by Wordserve Literary Agency. Her
memberships include ACFW and NCWA. When she's not writing, she loves to
discover worlds of adventure in the great outdoors with her family.

I have always wondered what the deal was with the peppermint pig at Christmas time and now I know. Thank you for sharing! Our children raised pigs for show projects many years ago and pigs are still a favorite of mine, candy or otherwise!

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